County Record: Digital Edition

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Dorothy Louise Tinsley Garrison

Mauriceville

Proverbs 31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Dorothy Louise Tinsley Garrison, 75, Beloved wife of Melvin Homer Garrison of Mauriceville earned her heavenly reward on April 25, 2009. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Kevin Brown of First Baptist Church Mauriceville. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Monday, at the funeral home.

She was born on Aug. 17, 1933 in Center to John and Willie Tinsley. Dorothy moved to Orange in 1942 and attended school at Stark High School, where she was a proud member and assistant drum major of the Bengal Guards from 1945-1951. After graduating in 1951, she worked for Perry Brothers where she met her beloved “Mike.” They married in 1952 and together raised their three children in Roselawn. In 1985 they built their home in Mauriceville and Dorothy was always proud that she played a large part in helping to build that house. However, all of her family and friends know that it was Dorothy’s kind and gentle spirit that made her house a home where all were welcome to come and sit for a while, converse and have a cup of coffee. Her spirit and gentle soul were the embodiment for a particular phrase that she loved “Sit long-talk much.”For 27 years, Dorothy was the secretary for City of Orange Public Library. She worked hard in her flower garden and took great pride in the bounty of beautiful flowers that she lovingly raised. She was the ultimate lady and took much pride in her appearance and manner, loved jewelry and perfume, hesitated to serve dinner on anything other than “real” plates and was probably one of the top five greatest cooks in the world. Dorothy loved to write and often kept a journal entry of anything new that happened, a phrase or joke that caught her eye. She loved “Jeopardy” and working her cross-word puzzles and especially after retirement loved having her daily coffee with Mike, Carolyn and many other friends who stopped by to sit a spell on the porch. She loved nothing more than a visit from her family and friends and had a way of making you feel that you were the most important person in her world during that visit.

Dorothy was an extraordinary china painter for 50 years as anyone who entered her home could easily witness by the many beautiful items she has on display. If you were one of the chosen few who ever received one of these charming hand-painted items, you are indeed lucky. Dorothy was especially fond of her china-painting protégés, Christie, Sherry and Donna whom she taught until early this year.

She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Melvin Homer Garrison of Mauriceville.

She was preceded in death only two months ago, by her son Ronnie Garrison of Orange; mother and father, John and Willie Tinsley; brother, J.T. Tinsley; and sister, Shirley Tucker.

If you were a friend of Dorothy’s for one day, you were a friend for life and she treasured you with her whole heart. For the many friends and neighbors who have been so devoted to her during her illness, for the hours spent at her bedside, the prayers, food and telephone calls, you are more appreciated than you will ever know. To her pastor, friends, and prayer family at First Baptist Church of Mauriceville and to Southeast Texas Hospice nurses and staff, “Thank you from the bottom of our heart.” For her loving caregiver, Paula Fairchild, words can never express our gratitude. God bless you all.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church of Mauriceville 11540 Hwy. 12, Mauriceville, TX 77632, or Southeast Texas Hospice, P.O. Box 2385, Orange, TX 77631-2385